Josh MacDonald
Conquer Crohn’s
If you haven’t heard of Josh before it’s about time you had! Josh’s transformation with Crohn’s disease took him from 105 pounds to 165 and counting. It’s an amazing journey combining traditional healthcare and nutrition!
Josh is a successful entrepreneur who started his first internet marketing company at the age of 14. By 16, Josh's humble start-up had grossed more than six figures in sales. Since, he has spun up three different start-ups and had two books penned to his name, one about entrepreneurship and one about his journey with Crohn's.
Josh was diagnosed with Crohn's at the age of 18. At his lowest he weighed 105 pounds though he stands at 6'2". Through the miracles of modern medicine and a strict diet Josh was able to begin his road to recovery. Josh has committed himself to all things related to diet and lifestyle to gain muscle, weight, and to boost his confidence.
Josh had always been skinny growing up but as he started seeing Crohn's symptoms he lost even more weight. As you get older in life, it's not uncommon that those around you want to shed a few extra pounds, but Josh was a teenager and some of the other teens didn't understand why he looked the way he did. These teens hadn't yet learned that sooner or later health concerns catch up to all of us - it's just part of life.
Once Josh had his Crohn's under control through medication and diet he had 15 cm of his bowels removed due to scaring that had formed in his intestinal walls. While in the recovery room he began to throw up uncontrollably and his blood pressure dropped. The doctors realized something had gone wrong and rushed Josh back into an operating room. After significant blood loss, Josh was given multiple blood transfusions to get his red blood cell count back into a healthy range.
Josh was quick to say "Get involved in weightlifting!" He mentioned while it might not cure you of IBD it most certainly will boost your confidence and give you community. He acknowledged that sometimes it can be hard to get plugged into an IBD support group in your area but if you are in a gym, you are meeting new people who all have the same goal - trying to improve their health. "Fighting Crohn's disease is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one". Staying active and pushing yourself to new highs will show you that you can overcome anything - even IBD!
Josh recommends that you take it slow, build your ability over time, and track your progress daily. "If you aren’t making progress then you’ll give up. If other people see the progress you are making it will give you the positive reinforcement you need to keep you engaged and progressing. You are stronger than you think you are!"
Josh suggested focusing on compound movements (those exercises that work more than one muscle group at a time - bench press, squats, deadlifts, shoulder press, etc.). "If you are underweight you need to be eating a lot of calories. Find those foods that work for you and eat them until you can’t eat any more."
Josh challenges every IBD patient to take control of their own health journey. He knows that doctors, caregivers, and even friends can often be driven by their own personal agendas and you need to take charge and be your biggest advocate. One quote from Josh's book that I love and I wish I would have adopted earlier in my life says, "You have a disease, act like it".
IBD doesn't have to be the end of your story. It wasn't for Josh. He turned his teenage taunts into lean muscle, strength, and confidence and made new friends in the process!
Josh, I love your story! I'm excited for you and your future. Thanks for chatting with us!
If you want to know more about Josh's journey with Crohn's and his approach to managing it he has written a book called Conquer Crohn's which you can find on Amazon. You can also follow him on Instagram and YouTube for more on his workout routines and helpful tips on living with Crohn's - links below.
Josh's Instagram: @conquer.crohns
You can access Josh's Conquer Crohn's YouTube here.
You can access Josh's YouTube here.
Josh's Website: https://joshmacdonald.net/.
